Batucada, jazz combos, music technology students to perform April 29

The Batucada Nossa Senhora ethnic percussion ensemble of Saint Mary’s will present its 17th annual spring concert 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 29, in Page Theatre. Batucada Nossa Senhora translates to Percussion Ensemble of Our Lady.

The performance, under the direction of Denny McGuire, will consist of music from Brazil, Cuba and Puerto Rico, combining for an enriching multi-cultural experience for all ages. Batucada members include SMU students, many of whom are music majors, as well as community members.

Performers use a variety of unique instruments including the authentic surdo, tamborim, agogó, reco-reco, ganzá and pandeiro from the Samba Baterias of Brazil as well as hand-drums such as conga and bongó from the Cuban tradition. From Africa, they also use gongoque and beaded gourds of many types (most of which are made by members of the group) as well as instruments such as the berimbau and talking drum.

Additionally two SMU jazz workshop combos, under the direction of Dr. John Paulson and Eric Heukeshoven, will play some favorite pieces from past performances, and three SMU music technology students will premiere their electronic music pieces.

One of the jazz workshop combos will perform a Latin jazz piece, written by McGuire.

Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for students and seniors and may be purchased online at www.pagetheatre.org or at the Performance Center box office, (507) 457-1715, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays.

Jazz groups, Batucada joint performance is Nov. 21 at SMU

Saint Mary’s jazz ensembles will join forces with the percussion ensemble Batucada Nossa Senhora for an evening of rhythmic jazz and unique ethnic sounds starting at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 21 in Page Theatre.

The joint concert combines the talents of the 18-piece Jazz Ensemble and 12-member Batucada ensemble. The Jazz Combo, featuring five student soloists, will also perform. Dr. John Paulson directs the jazz groups and Denny McGuire directs Batucada Nossa Senhora (translated as “percussion ensemble of our lady”).

The big band will feature the world premiere of Dr. Paulson’s “Drop Off Blues.” This piece stretches the boundaries of traditional blues arrangements by giving each section in the band a challenging “soli” part, as well as ample space for individual soloists. Also included in the jazz ensemble set will be a Basie-style ballad “Nice and Easy,” written and arranged by Jeff Taylor; “Carnival Del Sol,” a lively jazz samba by Dean Sorenson; Dizzy Gillespie’s famous “Manteca”; bebop trumpeter Lee Morgan's ever popular “Sidewinder”; and “Spring Cleaning” by Maynard Ferguson alumnus Matt Harris (featuring music faculty member Eric Heukeshoven on piano). Jazz Combo will be performing A.C. Jobim’s well-known bossa nova “Triste” and Mongo Santamaria’s “Afro Blue.” The jazz groups will combine with the Batucada percussionists to ignite the rhythmic excitement of the concert’s Latin-jazz style pieces.

Student soloists in the jazz groups include: tenor saxophonist Ryan Ballanger; baritone saxophonist Ben Scott and trombonist Tom Briese; and alto saxophonist Vanessa Grams.

Batucada Nossa Senhora will perform styles from the Afro-Cuban and Afro-Brazilian traditions, as well as a drum medley from Ghana in West Africa.

Tickets are $10, $5 for students and seniors and are available at the SMU Box Office, Ext. 1715 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays or online at www.pagetheatre.org. For more information on the event, contact Dr. Paulson at Ext. 1596 or jpaulson@smumn.edu.

Joint jazz, Batucada concert set for Nov. 21

The SMU Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Combo, under the direction of Dr. John Paulson, and Batucada Nossa Senhora, directed by Denny McGuire, will perform a joint performance at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 21, in the Page Theatre.

Tickets for the performance are $10 for adults and $5 for seniors and students and available by contacting the Page Theatre box office at Ext. 1715 or online at www.pagetheatre.org.

Ethnic percussion ensemble plans spring concert April 30

The Batucada Nossa Senhora ethnic percussion ensemble of Saint Mary’s will present its 16th annual spring concert 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 30, in Page Theatre. Batucada Nossa Senhora translates to “Percussion Ensemble of Our Lady.”

The performance, under the direction of Denny McGuire, will consist of music from Brazil, Cuba and Puerto Rico, combining for an enriching multi-cultural experience for all ages. Batucada members include SMU students, many of whom are music majors, as well as community members.

Performers use a variety of unique instruments including: the authentic surdo, tamborim, agogó, reco-reco, ganzá, and pandeiro from the Samba Baterias of Brazil, as well as hand-drums such as conga and bongó from the Cuban tradition. From Africa, they also use gongoque and beaded gourds of many types (most of which are made by members of the group) as well as instruments such as the berimbau and talking drum.
The John Paulson Quartet, under the direction of Dr. John Paulson of the SMU music department, will open the show. The quartet also includes Michael James, Josh Shively and Larry Dalton.

Tickets are $6, $4 for students and seniors and may be purchased online at www.pagetheatre.org or at the Performance Center box office, Ext. 1715, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays.